"Concentrate on pushing or pulling the ball. Don't pay attention to the
colors," he told her.

"Okay."

"I'll start it." He concentrated on the ball, and it expanded to three
times it's normal size. Then he pushed it toward her.

*Slow Down. * Ashley thought at the ball. It did. She then held out her
hand, and the ball stopped one inch from it.

"That was good, Ash!" Andros said excitedly.

"Thank you," she said with a smile. She then pushed it back to him.
Andros almost didn't catch it.

"Are you sure you've never done this before?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Because you do it like a pro."

"Wow! Really?" she asked.

"Yes, try this." He thought, *I love you. *

*I love you, too. *

*So you can do Telekinesis and Telepathy. I should take you to see
Kinwon, but I don't know where he is. *

*I'm sorry. *

He pulled her into an embrace, "Don't be. I miss him and my people, but
I'll find them someday." He leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss.
At first, she was surprised, but then she returned it
enthusiastically.

Suddenly, she heard, *Ashley, slow down, please. * She pulled away.

"Sorry, I just . . . I guess we should take this slowly. It's new to
you, isn't it?"

"Yeah, sorry,"

"Don't be. It's okay, I'm a very patient person."

"Thank you. If I were you, I couldn't do what you're doing for me."

"Andros, I love you. That's why I'm doing this, okay."

"Okay." He then leaned forward and kissed her passionately. Two minutes
later he pulled back.

"Wow!" was all she could say.

"That's so you know what the future holds for us."

"Oh, I almost forgot. Angel Grove High is having it's school dance, and
I was wondering . . ." she started.

"Ashley, would you mind if I escorted you to this dance?" he asked.

*Not at all. *

*You're incredible, you know that? *

*Well, you're pretty incredible too. * she thought at him. She then
looked down at her communicator
and saw what time it was. "I've got to go now. I promised Adelle I'd
help her out at the Surf Spot."

"That's okay. DECA, take the Megaship to Earth."

"Thanks," she said. She leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss. "See
ya."

"See ya," he responded back.

* * *

On the Bridge, "DECA, who changed our course?" Carlos asked.

"Andros did," the computer responded.

*Good. Now Ashley will have to come back to me. Her grandmothers bound
to be in town. *

"We have reached Earth."

"Thanks, DECA." Ashley said as she teleported down. In the alley behind
the Surf Spot, "Don't move," a voice commanded Ashley. The voice moved
closer and grabbed Ashley's hands. He tied them up, blindfold her and
gagged her.

*No. * she thought.

"This wouldn't hurt so much and I would be done faster if you quit
squirming" the voice told her as she struggled.

*Andros.* she mentally screamed, but didn't get a response.

He finally got up, redressed her, and untied her hands. Then, quickly
ran away. She took the blindfold and ducktape off. She was bleeding.
Instead of going into the Surf Spot, she teleported back up to the
Megaship.

"There you are. Adelle called and said she wouldn't need your help
after all. Ash? Oh, my God, you're bleeding. What happened?" Andros
asked.

She didn't answer, she just ran towards her room crying and
ashamed.

"What happened, Ashley?" he asked. She turned around and fell into his
arms. "I'm taking you to the Med. Bay. DECA, have Cassie meet us
there."

"Andros, what was so urge . . .? Ash, what happened?" Cassie asked.

"I . . .I was . . . I was raped," she said dissolving into tears
again.

"Andros, can you leave for a second? I need to check her out. Then, you
can come back and bandage her wounds.

He nodded and Cassie went to work. A few minutes later she let Andros
in. "She wants you in here. DECA's running test on what I got, to
narrow down the suspects. Will you take care of her?" she asked and
left.

Ashley was just laying on the patient bed waiting for him to come
in.

*Hey, beautiful. * he thought to her.

She thought back at him, * I'm not beautiful. Look at me, I was raped.

*"Don't say that. DECA, have you narrowed it down any?"

"As far as I can get it right now. It could be almost any guy in Angel
Grove with the exception of former Rangers."

"What?" they said together.

"I'm running further test, though."

"DECA, may I have a bone scanner?" he asked and it appeared in his
right hand. "Okay, let's see. No, broken bones, but you have a sprained
ankle and a lot of bruises. Otherwise you'll heal quickly."

"Andros?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"Can I stay with you tonight?"

"You don't need to ask," he said leaning down and kissing her. She
flinched, "Sorry," he told her.

"It's okay. I just really want to get into my pajamas and go to
bed."

"Alright, here," he said picking her up. He carried her to her room and
she got into her pajamas. When she came out, she handed him a bag.
"It's my clothes," she told him.

"Here, DECA," he said as they disappeared.

They quietly walked to his room. Carlos passed by them and Ashley
immediately fell into Andros' arms.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Can I tell you later?" she requested.

He nodded. They reached his room and walked in. "Okay, now what's the
matter?" he gently asked.

"I guess I'm just scared to be around other guys right now."

"DECA, what do your results show?" he asked.

"It was Alan Ricardo Vargos. He is the brother of Carlos," the computer
confirmed.